Mataharis

Mataharis

Year: 2007

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Icíar Bollaín

ComedyDrama

Private detectives Inés, Eva and Carmen routinely breach others’ privacy, yet remain unaware of their own hidden truths. As they pursue their surveillance assignments, the three must navigate the fragile boundary between public scrutiny and private life, forcing them to confront personal dilemmas while tackling cases that demand more than professional skill, ultimately revealing the costs of their own secrecy.

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Timeline – Mataharis (2007)

Trace every key event in Mataharis (2007) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Undercover assignment at the factory

Inés is assigned to work undercover as a factory employee to observe the union leaders. She begins to blend in and gather information on their activities. The assignment signals a pivot in her career and opens a moral minefield she will have to navigate.

Beginning of investigation Factory
2

Emotional conflict with Manuel

While undercover, Inés develops feelings for Manuel, a key union member. Her attraction clashes with professional duty as she weighs loyalty to the agency against her growing empathy for him. The emotional dilemma threatens her plans for advancement and complicates the case.

Mid-investigation Factory
3

Eva returns and starts a routine case

Eva returns to the agency after maternity leave and is assigned a seemingly mundane case about locating an old man's first love. She struggles to juggle motherhood with work and feels unsupported by her husband Iñaki. The case soon reveals cracks in her personal life.

Early days after return Agency
4

Marta appears and Eva investigates

A mysterious woman named Marta enters Iñaki's life, triggering Eva's suspicions of a secret life. She decides to probe her husband's behavior and motives. The investigation raises questions about trust and fidelity within their marriage.

Shortly after Marta's involvement Madrid
5

Tracking Iñaki from Madrid to Zaragoza

Eva tails Iñaki across cities, following clues that suggest a broader pattern than a simple affair. The pursuit takes her from Madrid to Zaragoza as she pieces together where his loyalties truly lie. The journey marks a turning point in her personal investigation.

Mid-investigation Madrid to Zaragoza
6

Discovery of a son and a hidden life

In Zaragoza, Eva uncovers that Iñaki has a son from a previous relationship and is now involved with another family. The revelation shakes her trust and raises the stakes of the investigation. She realizes the truth could threaten her own family as well as her marriage.

Mid to late investigation Zaragoza
7

Carmen investigates Sergio and his partner

Carmen, the veteran detective, carries out a routine inquiry into Sergio, a photographer, his business partner, and the partner’s affair with Sergio’s wife. She treats it as a standard case but senses the strain in Sergio's marriage. The assignment provides a counterpoint to her own fragile relationship at home.

Early case Sergio's studio
8

Carmen empathizes with Sergio's marital collapse

Carmen's empathy for Sergio's marital collapse grows as she observes the human costs of tangled relationships. She appears less detached, even as she tries to maintain professional distance. Her perspective on love and loyalty starts to blur with her own marital concerns.

During investigation Sergio's studio
9

Valbuena pressures the detectives

Valbuena, a chauvinistic boss, pushes the three detectives to deliver results and maintain control at work. This professional strain creates tension among Inés, Eva, and Carmen as they juggle cases with personal upheavals. It tests their loyalty to the agency and to each other.

Throughout Agency
10

Inés faces career risk due to ethics

Inés confronts the consequences of letting personal feelings influence duty. She fears losing her job and possibly ending her career if she chooses Manuel over the investigation. The moment crystallizes the central ethical dilemma her storyline centers on.

Mid-story Factory/Agency
11

Eva confronts the double life

Fueled by discoveries, Eva confronts the possibility that Iñaki has been living a double life. She weighs protecting her children against preserving her marriage. The investigation expands beyond a single affair to questions of trust, secrecy, and family stability.

Mid to late Madrid/Zaragoza
12

Three detectives reassess their futures

With parallel investigations and personal turmoil, Inés, Eva, and Carmen reassess their professional boundaries and what they want from their careers and lives. They consider whether private detectives can balance ethics with love, loyalty, and ambition. The agency becomes a mirror for their personal reckoning.

End Agency

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:36

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Detective Dramas with Personal Reflection like Mataharis

Characters who probe others' lives are forced to confront their own hidden truths.Explore movies like Mataharis where the act of investigation turns inward. This collection features thoughtful dramas and character studies about professionals in truth-seeking roles—private eyes, reporters, researchers—who find their work forcing a reckoning with their own secrets and moral dilemmas.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a parallel structure: an external case or assignment progresses while simultaneously unveiling the protagonist's internal conflicts. The professional and personal narratives intertwine, often leading to a point of crisis where the character must grapple with the ethical cost of their work and the truths they've been avoiding about themselves.

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These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the psychological duality of investigation. They share a melancholic, reflective mood, a steady pacing that allows for character depth, and a central theme exploring the blurry line between observer and participant, truth and self-deception.

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The narrative journey in these films is typically internal and cumulative rather than driven by high-stakes plot. Character arcs are built through a series of small, revealing incidents and conversations. The endings are often ambiguous or bittersweet, reflecting the nuanced and ongoing nature of real-life personal growth and relationships.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific emotional mix: a thoughtful, melancholic mood combined with a bittersweet tone and a steady, observational pace. They prioritize character depth over complex plotting and explore themes of female camaraderie, personal secrets, and the moral complexities of ordinary existence.

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Mataharis Summary

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Mataharis Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Mataharis

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Mataharis

More About Mataharis

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